Can couples live in student accommodation in London?

Can you and your partner live together while you study in London? Yes, but only in rooms built for two. Most student rooms are let to one person, so you’ll need to look for dual occupancy accommodation. Sounds technical, right? It isn’t. Below, we explain what it means and how sharing a studio works at GradPad.

Not sure whether you and your partner can share a studio? Get in touch with us and we’ll help.

WHAT IS DUAL OCCUPANCY STUDENT ACCOMMODATION?

Dual occupancy simply means a room or studio that two people are allowed to live in under the same tenancy (the agreement you sign to rent the room). It’s usually a larger studio with a double bed, its own bathroom and its own kitchen, so you can live together without sharing facilities with anyone else.

Here’s the catch: most student rooms in London are let to one person. Don’t assume. Check the tenancy terms before your partner moves in, and ask these questions before you book:

• Is the room officially available for two people, and will both of you be named on the tenancy?
• Do both of you need to be students, and at what level of study?
• Is the rent charged per room or per person?
• Are bills included, or will two people mean higher energy costs?
• How big is the room, and is there enough storage and desk space for two?

PRO TIP: Get the answers in writing. If a provider can’t say clearly who is named on the tenancy, that tells you something.

STUDENT ACCOMMODATION FOR COUPLES IN LONDON AT GRADPAD

GradPad is postgraduate-only accommodation in London, and our Premium studios can be shared by two people, as long as you’re both over 18 and studying a full-time postgraduate course in London. That means you can live together in purpose-built student accommodation, in a studio of your own.

There are two buildings to choose from:

• Griffon Studios, Battersea, south-west London: a minute’s walk from Clapham Junction.
• Wood Lane Studios, White City, west London: close to Westfield London and Imperial College London’s White City campus.

Every GradPad studio is self-contained, with its own bathroom, kitchenette and study area, so you won’t share a kitchen or bathroom with anyone else. Gas, electricity, water and internet are included in the rent, and you get free use of the on-site gym. Both buildings are for postgraduates only, so your neighbours are at the same stage of study as you, and they know what a late night with a thesis feels like.

PRO TIP: Choose your building by campus and commute. Studying at Imperial’s White City campus? Wood Lane Studios is close by. Prefer Battersea and the trains from Clapham Junction? Griffon Studios is a minute’s walk away.

WHO CAN SHARE A STUDIO, AND HOW TO BOOK

You can share a GradPad Premium studio if you and your co-tenant are both over 18 and studying a full-time postgraduate course in London. Premium studios have one double bed, so they suit couples best.

Here’s how to book as a couple:

1. Check you’re both eligible: over 18 and studying a full-time postgraduate course in London.
2. Contact the GradPad team and ask which Premium studios are available at your preferred building.
3. When you book, give the name of your co-tenant and evidence of their student status.
4. Move in together and split one all-inclusive rent.

PRO TIP: Have your partner’s proof of student status ready before you get in touch. It saves time when you book.

WHAT IT COSTS TO LIVE TOGETHER

Let’s talk money, because sharing a studio can cut a couple’s living costs a lot. In 2025/26, GradPad’s double occupancy studios had the same weekly rent whether one or two people lived in them. Split two ways, that’s far less per person than renting two separate studios. Ask the GradPad team for current prices when you enquire.

Bills don’t go up either. Gas, electricity, water and internet are included in GradPad’s rent, so two people using the heating and Wi-Fi won’t mean a bigger energy bill. No arguments about who left the heating on.

You can usually avoid council tax too. Households where everyone is a full-time student don’t have to pay it, as long as each course lasts at least 1 year and involves at least 21 hours of study a week. If you’re unsure, check with your local council.

PRO TIP: Do the maths before you decide. Take one rent, split it between two, and compare it with the cost of two separate studios plus two sets of bills.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Can couples live in student accommodation in London?

Yes, in rooms that are approved for two people. At GradPad, Premium studios can be shared by two postgraduate students at Griffon Studios in Battersea and Wood Lane Studios in White City.

What does dual occupancy mean in student accommodation?

It means two people can live in the same room or studio under one tenancy. It’s different from having a guest stay, because both residents are part of the booking.

Do we pay rent per person or per studio?

In 2025/26, GradPad’s double occupancy studios had the same weekly rent whether one or two people lived in them, so a couple splits one rent. Ask the team for current prices.

Can my partner live with me if they’re not a student?

Not at GradPad. To share a Premium studio, you and your co-tenant both need to be over 18 and studying a full-time postgraduate course in London.

Are bills included for couples?

Yes. Gas, electricity, water and internet are included in the rent, whether one or two people live in the studio.

Can two friends share a Premium studio?

Any two eligible postgraduates can share, but Premium studios only have a double bed, so they’re best suited to couples.

FIND A STUDIO FOR TWO

So, is it possible? Absolutely. If you’re both starting a postgraduate course in London and want to live together, take a look at the Premium studios at Griffon Studios and Wood Lane Studios, or get in touch with the GradPad team to check availability for couples. We’d love to help you both settle in.